Madgwicks’ Property team advises developers, investors, financiers, landlords and tenants on every stage of the property lifecycle – from acquisition and funding through to leasing, development and dispute resolution.

We regularly advise on:

Transaction Support

• Acquisition and sale of major commercial assets including shopping centres, office buildings, industrial property, retirement villages, aged care facilities, hotels and serviced apartment complexes.
• Acquisition and sale of premium residential and rural properties.
• Contract negotiations for freehold and leasehold titles.
• High-volume conveyancing for large-scale developments, settlements, and discharges.
• Structuring acquisitions for private investors, property trusts, syndicates and managed investment schemes.
• Advising on syndicates, joint ventures and investment structures, including tax considerations (GST, CGT and stamp duty).
  

Leasing Advisory

• Due diligence, negotiation and documentation for commercial (including retail) and industrial leasing.
• Drafting agreements to lease, sale-and-leaseback arrangements, subleases and licences.
• Advising across retail, office, industrial, specialist residential and hospitality sectors.
• Alternative dispute resolution for landlords and tenants, including lease termination advice.
  

Property Finance and Funding

• Structuring and reviewing financing arrangements and specialised securities agreements.
• Drafting facility documentation, construction finance, mezzanine funding and intercreditor deeds.
• Preparing property trust documentation and information memorandums.
• Advising on tax issues including GST, land tax, stamp duty and windfall gains tax.
• Structuring funding for build-to-rent developments and related holding structures.
  

Greenfield and Built Form Development

• Legal support from pre-acquisition through to practical completion.
• Drafting development management and construction agreements for complex projects.
• Structuring and documenting joint ventures, syndicates and investment vehicles.
• Advising on land subdivision, mixed-use and large-scale residential developments.
  

Industrial and Commercial Development

• Site acquisition and sales: due diligence, contracts and settlements.
• Planning and approvals: zoning, permits and negotiations with councils and regulators.
• Environmental compliance: assessments, remediation and regulatory obligations.
• Project structuring and finance: joint ventures, investment vehicles, and loan arrangements.
• Construction contracts: drafting and negotiation (built form and civil works).
• Leasing and pre-leasing (Agreements for Lease).
• Tax and duty advice: GST, stamp duty and land tax implications.
  

Property and Leasing Disputes
Working in partnership with Madgwicks’ Dispute Resolution and Litigation team, we provide pragmatic and cost-effective advice to resolve property-related disputes quickly and with minimal disruption to business.

Experience Highlights

Transactions

• Acting for the vendor on the sale of a regional shopping centre with three national anchor tenants.
• Managing the sale of Westwaters Hotel and Entertainment Complex, Victoria’s second-largest gambling venue after Crown Casino.
• Acting on the multi-million dollar sale and settlement of a regional retirement village and business holdings.
  

Leasing

• Acting for the developer and landowner of a major hardware retailer on their first multi-storey inner-city development.
• Providing ongoing leasing and dispute resolution advice to commercial and retail landlords and blue-chip tenants across Australia.
  

Finance and Funding

• Acting for a lender on a complex construction facility for an apartment development.
• Advising a major Asian development group on the acquisition of Melbourne hotels and serviced apartments.
• Acting for a bank on the financing of a major Geelong land development involving multiple cross-collateralised loan agreements and tripartite arrangements.
  

Greenfield and Built Form Development

• Managing the legal requirements for a 1,200-lot development west of Melbourne, including contracts, authority dealings, civil works, refinancing, plans of subdivision, settlements and multi-lender arrangements.
• Preparing contracts and handling off-the-plan settlements for major Southbank mixed-use developments (400+ apartments) and several other mid-to-large residential projects.